Article

IoD adds new faces on governing body

18 Jul 2016

UK’s leading organisation for company directors appoints members to its Council as business community prepares for challenging times ahead

As companies begin to respond to the seismic shifts in politics following the EU referendum and the arrival of a new regime in Whitehall, the Institute of Directors has refreshed its Council, adding experienced directors from across the UK to make sure a true range of voices are heard in the debate on where Britain goes now.

The Council is the guardian of IoD’s constitution, ensuring that the objectives of the organisation’s Royal Charter to “promote for the public benefit high levels of skill, knowledge, professional competence and integrity on the part of directors,“ and “foster a climate favourable to entrepreneurial activity” are delivered.

Lady Barbara Judge CBE, Chairman of the Institute of Directors, said of the appointments:

“I am very pleased to be able to welcome such a broad range of talented individuals to the IoD’s Council. These are challenging times for the business community and it is the IoD’s duty to support its members to provide the steady business leadership that will get us through the uncertain months and years ahead.

“There is a great wealth of talent in UK companies, and we need to harness it to make sure the economy can adapt to the new reality and make the most of opportunities where they arise. Our new council members represent different sectors and parts of their country, and with their guidance, the IoD will continue to be a force for enterprise and integrity in business everywhere.”

Council members were appointed through an open recruitment process, which took place following a review of the IoD’s constitution in 2015. The review focused on making the governance of the institute as transparency and accountable as possible.

The new members of the Institute of Director’s Council are:

Andrea Delay is the Head of Professional Services at Barclays Bank, providing industry specialism for the UK, Ireland and the US and is responsible for deciding and implementing strategy for the bank’s Professional Services clients.

Rick Denton is the Chief Executive Officer at Triangle Group, where he decides future strategy and development framework across all of the service divisions; property services, hospitality and specialist asset management.

Brian Hall is the Managing director of BHSF Employee Benefits Limited and has been on their Board for 14 years.

Roger Marsh is Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), helping enterprise and business to thrive and unlocking potential through partnership.

Emma Sheldon is the Group Marketing Director for Vernacare, she leads the manufacturing company's marketing and market access activities across 48 countries and six continents.

Nick Sturge is a co-founder and Director at Engine Shed which is collaboration between Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol, co-locating multiple, synergistic innovation assets.

Paul Terrington is the Regional Chairman at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Northern Ireland region representing the Institute publically and governing the committee structures by which it operates.

In addition, the following Council members who have previously served on the council were appointed:

Ian McKay has been a leading member of the Institute of Directors in Scotland and was previously a Chairman for the IoD Scotland Committee, with high-level engagement with UK and Scottish Government Ministers and other business groups and stakeholders in Scotland. Ian is the owner of consultancy firm, Otherhand Ltd that specialises in high-level facilitation and mediation in Scotland.

David Sales is Chairman of the Institute of Directors in East of England, following a period of being Chairman for Cambridgeshire. He is a director of First Ascent , a fast-growing Leadership Development, Management Development and Team Performance Consultancy.

Sarah Soar is an executive director with 31 years’ experience in the financial services industry. She joined Brewin Dolphin in 1984 and held a variety of roles including, Head of Office, Managing Director of London and Southern Branches, National Director and Business Development Director.

Garry Smith is a Senior Business Professional, whose successful career has been developed over 35 years within both blue-chip companies and the public sector, and is the Director of Marketing and Recruitment at Nottingham Trent University.

Dame Joan Stringer over the last 20 years has held several roles in strategic management and leadership in higher education, and is currently Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University.

With a wide breadth and range of experience, the council provides a pool of expertise responsible for reviewing the nature, focus and performance of the board to ensure accountability. As well as appointing board members, the Council has the crucial role of engaging with the IoD’s membership.